The World Bank site explains, "The idea of the Decade emerged from the first high level regional
conference on Roma which was held in Budapest, Hungary in 2003. At that
event, prime ministers and senior government officials from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovakia
announced their intention to launch the Decade. Their backing signals a
sea change in Roma policy and the political will necessary for reform.
Other countries are encouraged to join the Decade." This initiative is supported by This includes the Open Society Institute, the World Bank, the European
Commission, the United Nations Development Program, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, Council of Europe, the Council of
Europe Development Bank, among others, and most importantly, Roma
leadership, including international Roma organizations."